Reflective liquid crystal display device and projection display apparatus using the same

ABSTRACT

A reflective liquid crystal display device combined with an optical system with a wire grid is provided for light modulation by a liquid crystal layer. This layer, made of nematic liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy, is formed such that first and second orientation directions on first and second substrates are rotated by “60±α” and “60±β” degrees in first and second rotating directions starting from a reference direction, respectively. The first and second rotating directions are mutually opposite, the reference direction is parallel to the first and second substrates and within in an angular range defined by a central angle plus ±5 degrees wherein the central angle is ±45 degrees from an oscillation direction of incident polarized light, and a relationship of |α|+|β|≦10 (α and β are zero or positive integers) is fulfilled.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/498,899 filed on Aug. 4, 2006 and relates to and incorporates byreference Japanese Patent applications No. 2005-226586 filed on Aug. 4,2005 and No. 2006-001958 filed on Jan. 10, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reflective liquid crystal displaydevice incorporated in image display apparatuses and a projectiondisplay apparatus using the reflective liquid crystal display device,and is in particular, to the device and apparatus which are able todisplay high-contrast images.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, projection display apparatuses with liquid crystaldisplay devices have been grown into popular tools that can be used aslarge-sized screen display apparatuses. Such display apparatuses, whichcan be used for various things, such as meetings with screenpresentation, home theaters, and other uses, have been developed onvarious types of display devices. One type of such display apparatusesis a display apparatus with a reflective liquid crystal display deviceincorporated therein.

This reflective liquid crystal display device has two substrates and aliquid crystal layer, where one substrate has a surface with atransparent electrode formed thereon and the other substrate has asurface on which reflective electrodes and drive circuits for respectivepixels are arranged in a matrix and both surfaces of the two substratesare opposed in parallel to each other to sandwich the liquid crystaltherebetween as a layer. In this display device, the drive circuits forthe liquid crystal can be embedded beneath the display pixels, so thatthe display pixels allow the projection display apparatus to presentimages with high spatial resolution and high brightness.

The liquid crystal display device utilizes the double refraction of theliquid crystal molecules to control the transmission of light passingtherethrough. This means that the way the liquid crystal molecules areoriented has a large influence on the display quality of the images.Taking this fact into account, a variety of types of orientation waysfor liquid crystal, which are on different operation modes, have alsobeen studied and proposed for the reflective liquid crystal displaydevice. One proposal is provided by “Shin-Tson Wu and Deng-KeYang,”“Reflective Liquid Crystal Displays,” JOHN WILEY & SONS, Ltd,published Jan. 1, 2001.” This reference provides each orientationtechnique (i.e., relationship among an oscillation direction of incidentpolarized light, incident-side liquid crystal orientation and pixel-sideliquid crystal orientation) based on HFE (Hybrid Field Effect) mode, MTN(Mixed Twisted Nematic) mode, SCTN (Self-Compensated Twisted Nematic)mode and ECB (Electrically Controlled Birefringence) mode (refer toFIGS. 31A-31D of this application). In addition, Japanese Patent No.2616014 and United State Patent Publication No. 2004/0165128 alsoprovide other orientation techniques, which are shown in FIGS. 31E and31F, respectively.

In the case of the orientation techniques on the above operation modes,a vertically aligned type of liquid crystal (on homeotropic alignedmode) provides high contrast and operates faster in the response speedthan a horizontally aligned type of liquid crystal (on homogeneousaligned mode). Because of these features, this liquid crystal hasattracted attention. In the horizontally aligned type of liquid crystal,the liquid crystal molecules are aligned substantially horizontally tothe substrate surface when no voltage is applied between the substrates,whilst when a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules alignvertically to the substrate surface in response to its dielectricanisotropy. These alignments of the liquid crystal molecules produceblack and white representations. However, though the liquid crystalmolecules are ordered to be aligned vertically, some moleculespositioned close to an orientation membrane formed on each substrate areheld at angles which are near to the horizontal angle. This causesdifferences in phase of the molecules, thus deteriorating the level ofblack (e.g., deteriorating contrast in the black and while levels).

In contrast, the vertically aligned type of liquid crystal has anegative dielectric anisotropy, so that the liquid crystal molecules arealigned to a direction perpendicular to the substrate surface when novoltage is applied between the substrates. And, in response to anapplication of voltage, the molecules are made to be alignedhorizontally along the substrate surface, providing high contrast andoperating at a faster speed, with still less power consumption.

However, the vertically aligned type of liquid crystal still has somedifficulties, which include disclination, for instance. To be specific,unless the liquid crystal molecules are respectively given a slight tilt(pre-tilt angle) in a certain direction in a state where there is novoltage application, respective molecules are flipped toward differentdirections, which is called disclination, thus causing a deteriorationin image quality. As shown in FIG. 32, for example, the pre-tilt angleis given as an angle θp made between a long-axis direction of a liquidcrystal molecule and the substrate surface in a state where no voltageis applied (meanwhile, the pre-tilt angle may be given as an angle θp′(=90 degrees−θp), which advances from the normal line to the substratesurface, as illustrated in FIG. 32.)

In FIG. 32, there is shown an azimuthal angle α made between an azimuthproduced by projecting the long axis to the substrate surface and apredetermined axis on the substrate. A difference between the azimuthangles on both the upper and lower substrates (on the light incidenceside and the pixel side) corresponds to a twist angle. For example,United State Patent Publication No. 2004/0165128 shows an orientationfor liquid crystal, in which a pre-tilt angle θp is 75-88 degrees (inthis reference, since the pre-tilt angle is given as an angle whichadvances from the normal line to the substrate, the pre-tilt angle isdenoted as 2-15 degrees) and a twist angle φ is 90 degrees, as shown inFIG. 31F.

By the way, in using the reflective liquid crystal display device,giving the pre-tilt angle θp results in lowering the contrast of imagesto be displayed. That is, for realizing higher contrast, it is desiredthat the vertically aligned type of liquid crystal be used. In thisliquid crystal, a pre-tilt angle θp is given to the molecules to preventthe disclination, but such a previous tilt-angle setting will causeshifts in phases of the molecules, which will invite deterioration incontrast of images.

One normal countermeasure against the above difficulty is to employ aphase compensator to compensate the phase shifts for accomplishing highcontrast. This countermeasure is true of a structure where a polarizingbeam splitter of either MacNeille type or wire grid type is used as apolarizing device. For the phase compensation, it is required for thephase compensator to have an A-component (a phase difference) havingrefractive anisotropy along the surface thereof.

On the other hand, in manufacturing the reflective liquid crystaldisplay device, there arise irregularities (errors) in both thethickness of a liquid crystal layer and pre-tilt angles to be given,device by device, no matter what the precision for manufacturing is madehigher. That is, such irregularities are inevitable. Therefore, anA-component (i.e., a phase difference caused due to differences inpre-tilt angles and thicknesses of liquid crystal layers) to becompensated varies depending on each device, so that it is almostimpossible to use a phase compensator of which refractive anisotropy isset to an ideal value.

In addition, the liquid crystal has a refraction index depending on awavelength dispersion characteristic and the refraction index itself hasanisotropy also depending on the wavelength dispersion characteristic.Thus, for example, the shorter the wave length, the larger theanisotropy of the refraction index. Accordingly, it is necessarilyrequired for the wavelength plate to have the capability of compensatingthe phase shifts at a degree which is decided by taking the wavelengthdispersion characteristics into account. Necessarily, this way will leadto a narrower selection of materials for the phase compensator. This isanother disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the foregoingdifficulties, and an object of the present invention is to provide areflective liquid crystal display device and a projection displayapparatus using the same, which, through the display device employs avertically aligned type of liquid crystal and a beam splitter serving asa polarizing light system but is provided with no phase compensator forcompensating in phase the A-component, are able to contribute to thedisplay of high-contrast images, by providing the orientation conditionsof liquid crystal at a predetermined range.

In order to realize the above object, as one aspect, the presentinvention provides a reflective liquid crystal display devicecomprising: a first substrate receiving polarized light and having asurface on which a transparent electrode is formed, a second substratebeing disposed in parallel to the second substrate with a space leftbetween the first and second electrodes, having thereon a matrixformation composed of both reflective electrodes and drive circuits forrespective pixels, and reflecting the polarized light coming through thefirst substrate; and a liquid crystal layer composed of nematic liquidcrystal having negative dielectric anisotropy and held between the firstand second substrates for modulating the polarized light coming throughthe first substrate. A first liquid crystal orientation direction on thefirst substrate is set to an angle rotated by “60±α” degrees in a firstrotating direction starting from a reference direction, and a secondliquid crystal orientation direction on the second substrate is set toan angle rotated by “60±β” degrees in a second rotating directionstarting from the reference direction. The first and second rotatingdirections mutually oppositely rotate from the reference direction. Thereference direction is parallel to the first and second substrates andis within an angular range defined as a central angle plus ±5 degrees,wherein the central angle is ±45 degrees from an oscillation directionof the polarized light entering each substrate and a relationship of|α|+|β|≦10 (variables α and β are zero or positive integers) isfulfilled.

As another aspect, the present invention provides a projection displayapparatus comprises a light source radiating light; an illuminatingoptical system receiving the light radiated by the light source; apolarizing beam splitter polarizing the radiated light through theoptical system to produce polarized light and separating modulated lightand non-modulated light; a reflective liquid crystal display devicereceiving the polarized light to modulate the received polarized lightin response to image signals so that the modulated light is produced andreturning the modulated light to the polarizing beam splitter; and aprojection lens receiving the modulated light separated by thepolarizing beam splitter to project the modulated light to a displayplane on which an image is displayed. The reflective liquid crystaldisplay device is configured to have the same structure as one describedabove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an optical system composing aprocessor for a single color; the optical system being incorporated in aprojection display apparatus employing a reflective liquid crystaldisplay device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the angular relationship between the oscillation directionof incident polarized light and both pixel-side liquid-crystalorientation direction and incidence-side liquid-crystal orientationdirection;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing an applied voltage vs. output (amount oflight) characteristic of the reflective liquid crystal display deviceunder the condition that the wavelength of illuminating lights thepre-tilt angle of liquid crystal molecules and a cell thickness arefixedly set and the twist angle of the liquid crystal molecules isassigned to a parameter to be changed;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between a cone angle ofincident light and an average contrast ratio in the reflective liquidcrystal display device under the condition that the wavelength ofilluminating light, the pre-tilt angle of liquid crystal molecules, anda cell thickness are fixedly set and the pre-tilt angle of the liquidcrystal molecules is assigned to a parameter to be changed;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between a twist angle ofliquid crystal molecules and a contrast ratio in the reflective liquidcrystal display device under the condition that the wavelength ofilluminating light and the pre-tilt angle of liquid crystal moleculesare fixedly set and a cell thickness is assigned to a parameter to bechanged;

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between a twist angle ofliquid crystal molecules and a black level in the reflective liquidcrystal display device under the condition that the pre-tilt angle ofliquid crystal molecules and a cell thickness are fixedly set andilluminating light is changed to red, green and blue, respectively;

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between a twist angle and ablack level in the reflective liquid crystal display device under thecondition that the wavelength of illuminating light and a cell thicknessare fixedly set and a pre-tilt angle is assigned to a parameter to bechanged;

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between a pre-tilt angle anda white level in the reflective liquid crystal display device under thecondition that the wavelength of illuminating light and a cell thicknessare fixedly set and a twist angle is assigned to a parameter to bechanged;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged picture showing a sate where a disclination iscaused due to a voltage difference between mutually adjacent pixels onan active matrix substrate in the case of a pre-tilt angle of 86 degreesor more;

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between a twist angle and acontrast ratio of liquid crystal molecules of the reflective liquidcrystal display device under the condition that the wavelength ofilluminating light and the pre-tilt angle of the molecules are fixedlyset, the double refraction index is set to 0.132, and the cell thicknessis assigned to a parameter to be changed;

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between a twist angle and acontrast ratio of liquid crystal molecules of the reflective liquidcrystal display device under the condition that the wavelength ofilluminating light and the pre-tilt angle of the molecules are fixedlyset, the double refraction index is set to 0.155, and the cell thicknessis assigned to a parameter to be changed;

FIG. 12A is an ideal orientation condition for liquid crystal on thebasis of experiments;

FIGS. 12B to 12D are orientation conditions equivalent to that shown inFIG. 12A;

FIGS. 13A to 13D are orientation conditions for liquid crystal, whichare equivalent to FIGS. 12A to 12D, respectively;

FIG. 14 illustrates how to collimate an aperture for light in areflective liquid crystal display device according to a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a diagram outlining the optical configuration of a projectiondisplay apparatus according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a pictorial illustration showing a simplified optical systemfor a single-color channel of the projection display apparatus shown inFIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an illustration for a viewing angle characteristic;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of light source images on a fly's eyeintegrator, the illustration corresponding to the aperture of aconventional aperture member;

FIG. 19 is an illustration showing the limiting characteristic of anaperture member based on a light source image on a fly's eye integratorused by the projection display apparatus according to the secondembodiment;

FIG. 20 is an illustration showing the limiting characteristic ofanother aperture member based on the light source image on the fly's eyeintegrator;

FIG. 21 is an illustration showing the limiting characteristic ofanother aperture member based on the light source image on the fly's eyeintegrator;

FIG. 22 is an illustration showing the limiting characteristic ofanother aperture member based on the light source image on the fly's eyeintegrator;

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing an optical system composing aprocessor for a single color, the optical system being incorporated in aprojection display apparatus and employing a reflective liquid crystaldisplay device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a graph showing the relationship between a phase differenceof a phase compensator and an amount of light to be leaked in the blackstate in the projection display apparatus according to the thirdembodiment, in which the pre-tilt angle of molecules of the liquidcrystal layer and the cell thickness thereof are fixedly set and thetwist angle of the liquid crystal layer is assigned to a parameter to bechanged;

FIG. 25 is a graph showing measurements according to samples of a phasecompensator and simulation results, wherein an axis of abscissae isassigned to incident angles of polarized light entering the phasecompensator while an axis of ordinate is assigned to differences from aphase difference obtained in an incident angle of 0 degree, whereinrefraction indices are set to nx=ny=1.5225 and nz=1.51586, and the phasedifference is assigned to a parameter to be changed;

FIG. 26 is a graph showing the relationship between phase differences ofa phase compensator and light leakage, wherein the double refractionindex of a reflective liquid crystal display device is set to a specificvalue and the cell thickness thereof is assigned to a parameter to bechanged;

FIGS. 27 and 28 are graphs each showing the relationship between phasedifferences of the phase compensator and light leakage, wherein thedouble refraction index of a reflective liquid crystal display device isset to another specific value and the cell thickness thereof is assignedto a parameter to be changed;

FIG. 29 is a graph showing the relationship between phase differences(retardances) Rth of the phase compensator providing a minimum in eachof the curves shown in FIGS. 26-28 and retardations “Δn·d” of the liquidcrystal layer, the relationship being obtained from the curves shown inFIGS. 26-28;

FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram outlining the optical configuration of aprojection display apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 31A to 31D are illustrations each showing the operation mode ofliquid crystal and an orientation method therefore, which are knownconventionally;

FIGS. 31E and 31F are illustrations each showing an orientation methodfor liquid crystal, which are known conventionally; and

FIG. 32 illustrates the pre-tilt angle θp and azimuthal angle α ofliquid crystal molecules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In connection with FIGS. 1-30, various embodiments of both a reflectiveliquid crystal display device and a projection display apparatusaccording to the present invention will now be described.

First Embodiment

Referring to FIGS. 1-13, a first embodiment will now be described.

FIG. 1 shows a reflective type of optical system that serves as aprocessor for a single color, the processor composing part of aprojection display apparatus (not shown in FIG. 1) which employs areflective liquid crystal display device according to the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 1, the single-color processor is providedwith a reflective liquid crystal display device 1, a WG-PBS (wire gridtype of polarizing beam splitter) 2, and a polarization plate 3 servingas an analyzer.

The WG-PBS 2 receives illuminating light that has come thereto. Theilluminating light that has made incidence to the WG-PBS 2 is separatedinto P-polarized light which becomes incident light to the reflectiveliquid crystal display device 1 and S-polarized light which is reflectedlight. The P-polarized light, which has transmitted the splitter 2,enters the reflective light crystal display device 1. This device 1modulates the incident P-polarized light in accordance with imagesignals, whereby the modulated light is reflected by the device 1 toreturn to the WG-PBS 2 as modulated reflection light. The WG-PBS 2operates to reflect only the modulated S-polarized light, but causes theP-polarized light to be transmitted therethrough so that the P-polarizedlight becomes return light tracing back the path along which theilluminating light passed. In contrast, the modulated S-polarized light,which has been reflected by the WG-PBS 2, passes the polarization plate3 to enter a color synthesizing prism (not shown), at which themodulated S-polarized light is synthesized with other modulatedS-polarized light in conformity with the other two colors. Thesynthesized light then enters a projection lens (not shown) fordisplaying projected color images on a screen.

The reflective liquid crystal display device 1 will now be detailed.This device 1 is provided with a transparent substrate 11 which is atransparent electrode and an active matrix substrate 12 on which bothreflective electrodes and drive circuits are mapped in a matrix forrespective pixels. Both the substrates 11 and 12 are specially arrangedto be opposed to each other. The reflective liquid crystal displaydevice 1 is also provided with a liquid crystal layer (fluid) 13 held ina space sandwiched by both the substrates 11 and 12, and orientationmembranes 14 and 15 to provide the liquid crystal with predeterminedorientation conditions. The orientation membranes 14 and 15 are madefrom SiOx compound and are formed on surfaces of both the transparentsubstrate 11 and the active matrix substrate 12, which are exposed tothe liquid crystal layer (fluid) 13, by the use of a surface processingtechnique on vapor deposition.

The liquid crystal layer (fluid) 13 is composed of nematic liquidcrystal having negative dielectric anisotropy, a double refraction indexΔn of 0.085 under the condition that the wavelength of light is 550 nm(corresponding to green). The reflective liquid crystal display device 1is set to be used in a normally black mode.

In the foregoing single-color processor, the inventors conducted variousexperiments in which the wavelength λ of the illuminating light, thepre-tilt angle θp and the twist angle φ of the liquid crystal molecules,and the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer 13 in a directionperpendicular to the substrates (hereinafter, simply referred to as a“cell thickness”) were changed to various values to measure, as anoutput, amounts of the reflection light (S-polarized light) which passesthe polarization plate 3. The twist angle φ according to the variousexperiments is defined as an angle made between a pixel-sideliquid-crystal orientation direction and an incidence-sideliquid-crystal orientation direction, where, as illustrated in FIG. 2,the former and latter orientation directions are produced by makingclockwise and counterclockwise rotations of φ/2, respectively, from acentral direction (defined as a reference direction and a line alongthis reference direction is called a reference line) decided by making aclockwise rotation of 45 degrees from the oscillation direction of theincident polarized light (P-polarized light).

Experiment 1

Under the condition that the wavelength λ of the illuminating light is550 nm (green), the pre-tilt angle θp of the liquid crystal molecules is82 degrees, and the cell thickness d is 3.5 μm, the twist angle φ wasdesignated as a parameter to be changed to 0, 30, 60, 90, 100, 110, 120,130, and 150 degrees respectively. In each condition in which the twistangle φ was changed from one another, a voltage to be applied betweenthe transparent substrate 11 and all the reflective electrodes on theactive matrix substrate 12 was changed in a range of 0-5 Volts, duringwhich time the amount of the reflected light (S-polarized) at the WG-PBS2 was measured. Measured results are shown in FIG. 3 as an “appliedvoltage vs. output (light amount) characteristic” (in which the “output”is expressed with a logarithmic scale). As understood from the curvesshown in FIG. 3, a twist angle φ of 120 degrees provides a maximumcontrast. In the case of φ=110 degrees, a contrast ratio of 10⁴:1 ormore were obtained, while in the case of φ=130 degrees, a contrast ratiowhich is slightly lower than 10⁵:1 was obtained at an applied voltage of0 volt. In addition, at an applied voltage of 1 volt or thereabouts, theoutput (light amount) showed a local minimum, thus providing a contrastratio of 10⁶:1 or more. In cases where, like the case of φ=130 degrees,the contrast ratio has a local minimum at a specific applied voltage, itis allowed to set the specific voltage as a voltage giving the blacklevel.

Further, a further experiment was conducted in the same configuration asthe above on a configuration in which the WG-PBS 2 was replaced by aMacNeille type of beam splitter. Measured results were shown in FIG. 4,in which, at cone angles of the incident polarized light (P-polarized)of 10 degrees or higher, any twist angle φ exhibited contrast ratioswhich drastically reduced down to 200:1 or thereabouts. The reason forthis drastic reduction in the contrast ratios is that the MacNeille typeof beam splitter brings about a skew angle. In order to raise thecontrast ratio, it was therefore necessary to place a quarter wave plate(i.e., phase compensator) correcting the A-component between theMacNeille type of beam splitter and the reflective liquid crystaldisplay device.

Experiment 2

In an experiment 2, setting was made such that the wavelength was λ=550nm (Green) and the pre-tilt angle was θp=82 degrees, while the cellthickness d was designated as a parameter to be changed every 0.2 μm ina range of 2.6-4.0 μm. In each condition in which the cell thickness dwas changed, the twist angle φ was changed in a range of 100-150degrees, during which time the brightness of black at an applied voltageof 0 volt and the brightness of white at an applied voltage of 5 voltswere measured for a comparison between those brightness levels. Measuredresults are shown in FIG. 5, which exhibits that the black level alwaysbecome a minimum at φ=120 degrees regardless of changes in the cellthickness d and is relatively good in a range where the twist angle φ is110-130 degrees.

Experiment 3

In an experiment 3, setting was made such that the pre-tilt angle wasθp=82 degrees and the cell thickness was d=3.5 μm, while theilluminating light is changed to R-color, G-color and B-color,respectively, (i.e., their central wavelengths are 620 nm, 550 nm and450 nm, respectively). In each condition in which the wavelength of theilluminating light was changed, the twist angle φ was changed from 90 to150 degrees for measurement of the black level (light leakage). Measuredresults are shown in FIG. 6, in which the twist angle φ shows a minimumat 120 degrees independently of changes in the wavelength of theilluminating light. Additionally it is understood that the black level(Light Leakage) is relatively lower in a range providing the twist angleφ of 110-130 degrees.

Experiment 4

In an experiment 4, λ=550 nm (Green) and d=3.5 μm were set, while thepre-tilt angle θp of the liquid crystal molecules was changed in a rangeof 75-86 degrees. And in each condition in which θp is set to eachangle, the twist angle φ was changed in a range of 100-150 degrees tomeasure the brightness of black at an applied voltage of 0 volts. Thisexperiment showed that, as shown in FIG. 7, the brightness become to aminimum at a twist angle φ of 120 degrees and keeps relative lowerlevels in a range in which the twist angle φ is 110-130 degrees. FromFIG. 8, it became clear that a maximum amount of output light to beobtained in response to each application of a voltage reduced even whenthe pre-tilt angle θp was lowered or the twist angle φ was raised.

As a result, in order to maintain a sufficient brightness level, it isnecessary that the pre-tilt angle θp is set to 75 degrees or higher andthe twist angle φ is set to 150 degrees or less.

Using the foregoing conditions for the pre-tilt angle θp and the twistangle φ, an image consisting of two pixels of white and one pixel ofblack which are aligned continuously in the horizontal scan directionwas subjected to enlarged projected display for actual observation.Observed results are obtained as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 75 76 78 80 82 84 85 86 88 deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg.deg. deg. Twist = ∘ ∘ — ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ x 100 deg. Twist = — — — — — ∘ — ∘ x105 deg. Twist = ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Δ x 110 deg. Twist = ∘ — — ∘ — — ∘ Δ x115 deg. Twist = ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Δ x 120 deg. Twist = ∘ — ∘ — ∘ ∘ ∘ x x125 deg. Twist = ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ x x 130 deg. Twist = — — — — — ∘ ∘ x —135 deg. Twist = ∘ — — — — ∘ ∘ x x 140 deg. Twist = — — — — — ∘ Δ x —145 deg. Twist = ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Δ x X 150 deg. Notations: ∘: Image qualityis good Δ: image quality is almost good x: Image deterioration due todisclination is observed —: No experiment (no data)

As shown in Table 1, it was confirmed that the image had a poor qualityin a range of the pre-tilt angle θp which is 86 degrees or higher. Thispoor image quality is attributable to the fact that a difference involtage between mutually adjacent pixels on the active matrix substrate12 causes disclination. This disclination is illustrated in detail inFIG. 9, in which, at boundaries between each black pixel and each whitepixel, areas which should originally be black suffer from the appearanceof a while line and, contrary to it, pixels which should originally bewhite was partially blackened.

Further experiments 5 to 8 were conducted in the same way as theforegoing experiments 1 to 4 by using a liquid crystal layer composed ofnematic liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy and adouble refraction index Δn of 0.132 and 0.155, respectively, obtainedunder a light wavelength of 550 nm (green).

Experiment 5

Under the condition that the wavelength λ of the illuminating light is550 nm (Green), the pre-tilt angle θp of the liquid crystal molecules is82 degrees, and the cell thickness d is 2 μm, the twist angle φ wasdesignated as a parameter to be changed to 0, 30, 60, 90, 100, 110, 120,130, and 150 degrees respectively. In each condition in which the twistangle φ was changed from one another, a voltage to be applied betweenthe transparent substrate 11 and all the reflective electrodes on theactive matrix substrate 12 was changed in a range of 0-5 Volts, duringwhich time the amount of the reflected light (S-polarized) at the WG-PBS2 was measured. Like the experiment 1, measured results are shown as an“applied voltage vs. output (light amount) characteristic” (in which the“output” is expressed with a logarithmic scale). As understood from thecurves shown in FIG. 3, a twist angle φ of 120 degrees provided amaximum contrast. In the case of φ=110 degrees, a contrast ratio of10⁴:1 or more were obtained, while in the case of φ=130 degrees, acontrast ratio which is slightly lower than 10⁵:1 was obtained at anapplied voltage of 0 volt. In addition, at an applied voltage of 1 voltor thereabouts, the output (light amount) showed a local minimum, thusproviding a contrast ratio of 10⁶:1 or more. In cases where, like thecase of φ=130 degrees, the contrast ratio has a local minimum at aspecific applied voltage, it is allowed to set the specific voltage as avoltage giving the black level.

Further, a further experiment based on the above experiment 5 wasconducted in the same configuration as the above on a configuration inwhich the WG-PBS 2 was replaced by a MacNeille type of beam splitter.Like the first experiment 1, measured results were such that, at coneangles of the incident polarized light (P-polarized) of 10 degrees orhigher, any twist angle φ exhibited contrast ratios which drasticallyreduced down to 200:1 or thereabouts. The reason for this drasticreduction in the contrast ratios is that the MacNeille type of beamsplitter brings about a skew angle. In order to raise the contrastratio, it was therefore necessary to place a quarter wave plate (i.e.,phase compensator) correcting the A-component between the MacNeille typeof beam splitter and the reflective liquid crystal display device.

Experiment 6

In an experiment 6, setting was made such that the wavelength was λ=550nm (Green) and the pre-tilt angle was θp=82 degrees, while the cellthickness d was designated as a parameter to be changed every 0.2 μm ina range of 1.4-2.6 μm. In each condition in which the cell thickness dwas changed, the twist angle φ was changed in a range of 100-150degrees, during which time the brightness of black at an applied voltageof 0 volt and the brightness of white at an applied voltage of 5 voltswere measured for a comparison between those brightness levels. Measuredresults are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, which exhibits that the blacklevel always become a minimum at φ=120 degrees regardless of changes inthe cell thickness d and is relatively good in a range where the twistangle φ is 110-130 degrees.

Experiment 7

In an experiment 7, setting was made such that the pre-tilt angle wasθp=82 degrees and the cell thickness was d=3.5 μm, while theilluminating light is changed to R-color, G-color and B-color,respectively, (i.e., their central wavelengths are 620 nm, 550 nm and450 nm, respectively). In each condition in which the wavelength of theilluminating light was changed, the twist angle φ was changed from 90 to150 degrees for measurement of the black level (light leakage). Measuredresults were similar to those in the experiment 3, in which the twistangle φ shows a minimum at 120 degrees independently of changes in thewavelength of the illuminating light. Additionally it is understood thatthe black level (Light Leakage) is relatively lower in a range providingthe twist angle φ of 110-130 degrees.

Experiment 8

In an experiment 8, λ=550 nm (Green) and d=2 μm were set, while thepre-tilt angle θp of the liquid crystal molecules was changed in a rangeof 75-88 degrees. And in each condition in which θp is set to eachangle, the twist angle φ was changed in a range of 100-150 degrees tomeasure the brightness of black at an applied voltage of 0 volt. Thisexperiment showed that, like the experiment 4, the brightness become toa minimum at a twist angle φ of 120 degrees and keeps relative lowerlevels in a range in which the twist angle φ is 110-130 degrees.Similarly to the results in the experiment 4, it became clear that amaximum amount of output light to be obtained in response to eachapplication of a voltage reduced even when the pre-tilt angle θp waslowered or the twist angle φ was raised.

As a result, in order to maintain a sufficient brightness level, it isnecessary that the pre-tilt angle θp is set to 75 degrees or higher andthe twist angle φ is set to 150 degrees or less.

In this experiment, the cell thickness d is set to 2 μm and 2.6 2 μm,respectively, while the pre-tilt angle θp of the liquid crystalmolecules was changed during a range of 75 to 88 degrees and for eachpre-tilt angle θp, the twist angle φ was changed during a range of 110to 130 degrees. And an image was produced by alternately mapping twowhite pixels and one black pixel in each horizontal scanning direction,and this image was projected in an enlarged manner and subjected to anobservation. By this observation, it was found that the image kept analmost good quality up to a pre-tilt angle θp of 87 degrees for a cellthickness of 2.6 μm and up to a pre-tilt angle θp of 88 degrees for acell thickness of 2 μm, respectively. The reason is that, compared tothe foregoing experiment 4, the cell thickness is made thinner tosuppress each pixel from being influenced by the lateral electric fieldsfrom neighboring pixels. In contrast, in the experiment 4, it was foundthat the image was deteriorated due to the disclination in a range ofpre-tilt angles θp of 86 degrees or more. However, by making the cellthickness thinner, such a difficulty can be overcome.

From the foregoing various experiments, the following conclusions can bederived. When the double refraction index Δn and the cell thickness d ofthe nematic liquid crystal layer having negative dielectric anisotropyare changed, the black level becomes a minimum at a twist angle φ of 120degrees and is kept good over a range of twist angles φ of 110 to 130degrees. In order to obtain a high quality image with higher contrast,it is preferred to set pre-tilt angles θp of 75 to 85 degrees. This istrue of the case of the cell thickness d=3.5 μm. Setting the cellthickness d to 2.6 μm or less alleviates the influence of thedisclination to a large extent, thus providing high-quality images. Inaddition, as shown in Tables 2 to 5, the pre-tilt angle θp that provideshigh-quality images can be extended to a range of 75 to 87 degrees asfor a cell thickness of 2.6 μm and to a range of 75 to 88 degrees as fora cell thickness of 2 μm, respectively.

Accordingly, it can be concluded that the cell thickness d is availablefor a range of 3.5 μm or less, and preferably, it is desired to set thecell thickness d to 2.6 μm or less.

TABLE 2 (double refraction index Δn = 0.132, cell thickness d = 2 μm) 7576 78 80 82 84 86 87 88 deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg.Twist = ∘ — — ∘ — — ∘ ∘ Δ 110 deg. Twist = ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ x 120 deg.Twist = ∘ — — ∘ — — ∘ Δ — 130 deg. Notations: ∘: Image quality is goodΔ: image quality is almost good x : Image deterioration due todisclination is observed —: No experiment (no data)

TABLE 3 (double refraction index Δn = 0.155, cell thickness d = 2 μm) 7576 78 80 82 84 86 87 88 deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg.Twist = ∘ — — ∘ — — ∘ ∘ Δ 110 deg. Twist = ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ x 120 deg.Twist = ∘ — — ∘ — — ∘ Δ — 130 deg. Notations: ∘: Image quality is goodΔ: image quality is almost good x: Image deterioration due todisclination is observed —: No experiment (no data)

TABLE 4 (double refraction index Δn = 0.132, cell thickness d = 2.6 μm)75 76 78 80 82 84 86 87 88 deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg.Twist = ∘ — — ∘ — — ∘ Δ x 110 deg. Twist = ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Δ x 120 deg.Twist = ∘ — — ∘ — — ∘ Δ — 130 deg. Notations: ∘: Image quality is goodΔ: image quality is almost good x: Image deterioration due todisclination is observed —: No experiment (no data)

TABLE 5 (double refraction index Δn = 0.155, cell thickness d = 2.6 μm)75 76 78 80 82 84 86 87 88 deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg. deg.Twist = ∘ — — ∘ — — ∘ Δ x 110 deg. Twist = ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Δ x 120 deg.Twist = ∘ — — ∘ — — ∘ Δ — 130 deg. Notations: ∘: Image quality is goodΔ: image quality is almost good x: Image deterioration due todisclination is observed —: No experiment (no data)

Although ideal orientation conditions derived from the foregoingembodiments can be illustrated in FIG. 12A, these are also opticallyequivalent to orientation conditions illustrated in FIGS. 12B, 12C and12D, in which the reference line is rotated 90, 180, and 270 degrees,respectively. Moreover, from an optical point of view, the orientationconditions shown in FIG. 12A are also equivalent to those illustrated ineach of FIGS. 13A-13D, in which the incidence-side and pixel-side liquidcrystal orientation directions are opposite to each other from thedirectional geometry shown in FIGS. 12A-12D.

In the present embodiment, the twist angle φ is defined as an angle madebetween the pixel-side and incidence-side liquid-crystal orientationdirections, as explained before, but this can still be modified asbelow. That is, the angle of the reference line (i.e., referencedirection) from the oscillation direction of the incident polarizedlight (P-polarized light) is not always limited to an exact angle of 45degrees, but may be set to an angular range of 45±5 degrees. As long asthe twist angle φ is kept to 110-130 degrees, rotating the pixel-sideand incidence-side liquid-crystal orientation directions within therange of the twist angle φ will have almost no influence on the contrastratio, even though such a rotation may influence the brightness.

Further, the twist angle φ can be set to 110-130 degrees, and in such acase, the incidence-side and pixel-side liquid crystal orientationdirections can be set respectively to a value in an angular range of55-65 degrees to the reference line. An alternative way for setting theorientation directions is that, when it is assumed that variables α andβ are zero or positive satisfying an inequality of |±α±β|≦10 (signs areinconsecutive), an angle made between the incidence-side liquid crystalorientation direction and the reference line is set to “60±α” degreesand a further angle made between the pixel-side liquid crystalorientation direction and the reference line is set to “60±β” degrees.

In addition, as to the variables α and β for setting an angle made withthe reference line, it is particularly preferable that those variables αand β are set to meet a condition of |α|+|β|≦10.

In the first embodiment, the advantages can be summarized as follows.

When the reflective liquid crystal display device is arranged toreceive, as incident light, the polarized light produced by the opticalsystem including the wire grid, images can be displayed with highcontrast which is critically significant. In using vertically alignedliquid crystal (nematic liquid crystal having negative dielectricanisotropy), it is necessary to give the liquid crystal molecules apre-tilt angle θp so as to prevent the occurrence of disclination. Inthe case of the conventional reflective liquid crystal display device,the pre-tilt angle results in shifts in phases, thus lowering contrastto the contrary, thus requiring a phase compensator to compensate thephase shifts. However, thanks to the structures provided in the firstembodiment, it becomes unnecessary to compensate A-components whichdiffer depending on reflective liquid crystal display devices. In otherwords, with no use of a phase compensator for compensating theA-components, very high contrast can be given to images to be producedby each processor. Hence a further advantage is that, in the projectiondisplay apparatus obtaining color images through combining the modulatedlight on the three colors (R, G, B), differences among displaycharacteristics on respective colors are improved, which leads to highand stabilized quality of images to be displayed by each display device.

Second Embodiment

Referring to FIGS. 14-19 and, according to need, the foregoing drawings,a second embodiment of the present invention will now be described. Thesecond embodiment is concerned with how to limit the illuminating light.

In cases where, as shown in FIG. 4, the incident polarized light ofwhich cone angle is 10 degrees or less is adopted, it was found that thecontrast of images tended to be remarkably improved. It is thereforedesirable to use incident polarized light with a cone angle of 9 degreesor less. This results in the use of an aperture member having an F-valueof 3.6. When this aperture member was actually applied to theilluminating light, an improvement in contrast was found.

When the aperture is limited, the brightness will be lowered inevitably.This drawback can effectively be avoided by adopting an aperture shownin FIG. 14, in which the four corners of the incident illuminating lightare limited inwardly along their diagonal line directions, respectively.It was confirmed by the present inventors that this limiting way keepshigh contrast, with a decrease in the brightness kept to a small amount.Accordingly, in applying the reflective liquid crystal display deviceaccording to the first embodiment to the projection display apparatusequipped with the aperture member limiting the illuminating light, it isdesired to adopt the aperture shown in FIG. 14.

Hereinafter, a projection display apparatus according to the presentinvention, which is still equipped with the foregoing aperture member,will now be exemplified. For the sake of an easier understanding, thewhole configuration of this projection display apparatus will now beoutlined, prior to the description of the aperture member inherent tothe embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the configuration of this projectiondisplay apparatus, while FIG. 16 illustrates an optical path from alight source to a screen, which is adopted by the projection displayapparatus shown in FIG. 15. In the configuration shown in FIG. 16, acolor-separating optical system, a polarizing optical system such as awire grid type of polarizing beam splitter, a color-synthesizing opticalsystem, and an optical system for controlling optical paths are omittedfrom being depicted.

As shown in FIG. 15, the projection display apparatus adopts a fry's eyeintegrator which serves as the illuminating optical system. That is, inthis projection display apparatus, illuminating light generated by alight source 101 passes an aperture member 121 and a fry's eyeintegrator 102, both of which composes the illuminating optical system,passes a condenser lens 103, and then enters a cross dichroic mirror 104serving as a first color-separating optical system.

The fry's eye integrator 102 has a pair of flat transparent base plateson each of which small-diameter convex lenses are arrayed in a matrixform. This fry's eye integrator 102 is able to produce a large number ofoptical source images, so that superposing those optical source imageson one another gives uniformity to the distribution of illuminations ofthis illuminating light.

The cross dichroic mirror 104 has a structure of two dichroic mirrorswhich is combined with each other in a cross form, in which one mirroris able to reflect blue light B and the other mirror is able to reflectred-green light RG. Thus, this mirror 104 receives the illuminatinglight from the light source 101, and reflects the blue light component Bin a first direction and the red-green light component RG in a seconddirection opposite to that along which the blue light component B isreflected.

The blue light component B, which has been reflected by the mirror 104in the first direction, is then reflected by a first mirror 105 tochange its directions so that the light passes a field lens 106. Thelight from the field lens 106 then enters a first wire grid type ofpolarizing beam splitter 107. This splitter 107 is obliquely positionedto have an attitude of approximately 45 degrees to the optical path,which has the capability of permitting only a P-polarized lightcomponent to be passed therethrough. That is, prior to the incidence tothe first wire grid type of polarizing beam splitter 107, the light isconverted to the P-polarized light by a pre-polarizer 126, wherebyimages being displayed are improved in terms of their contrast. The bluelight component B, which has passed this splitter 107, then enters to afirst reflective liquid crystal display device 108 placed for this bluelight component B. For example, this display device 108 is structuredinto a reflective liquid crystal light bulb.

Meanwhile the red-green light component RG reflected in the seconddirection by the cross dichroic mirror 104 changes its directions by thereflection at a second mirror 109, and then enters, through apre-polarizer 127, a dichroic mirror 109 serving as a secondcolor-separating optical system. Hence, before entering the dichroicmirror 110, the reflected light is converted into P-polarized light inadvance. This manner is also effective in improving the contrast, likethe foregoing. In this way, the dichroic mirror 110 allows the red lightcomponent R to be passed therethrough and the green light component G tobe reflected thereat, thus causing the red and green light components Rand G to be separated from each other.

In addition, the red light component R that has passed the dichroicmirror 110 enters a second wire grid type of polarizing beam splitter112 via a field lens 111. This beam splitter 112 is located to have atilt of approximately 45 degrees to the optical path, so that the beamsplitter 112 allows only the P-polarized light component to passtherethrough. The red light component R, which have passed the beamsplitter 112, enters a second reflective liquid crystal display device113 paced for the red light component R.

The green light component G, which has been reflected by the dichroicmirror 110, enters a third wire grid type of polarizing beam splitter115 via a field lens 114. This beam splitter 115 is also located to havea tilt of approximately 45 degrees to the optical system, so that onlythe P-polarized light component to the beam splitter 115 is allowed topass the beam splitter 115. Before entering the beam splitter 115, thelight is converted into the P-polarized light by the pre-polarizer 127in advance, whereby images being displayed is improved from a contrastviewpoint. The green light component G, which has this third wire gridtype of polarizing beam splitter 115, is then made to enter a thirdreflective liquid crystal display device 116 placed for the green lightG.

The blue, red and green light components B, R and G, which have nowentered the reflective liquid crystal display devices (reflectivespatial light modulating elements) 108, 113 and 115, respectively, arereflected to include image light modulated to S-polarized lightdepending on image signals, so that the modulated light beams return tothe beam splitters (reflective polarizing plates) 107, 112 and 115,respectively. As shown in FIG. 15, the image light beams are reflectedby the beam splitters 107, 112 and 115, respectively, so as to advancethrough three optical paths toward a cross dichroic prism 117 serving asthe color-synthesizing optical system.

As a preferred mode according to the present embodiment, between each ofthe beam splitters 107, 112 and 115 and the cross dichroic prism 117, ananalyzer 123 (124 and 125) for each color light beam is inserted forremoving unnecessary polarized components from each of the image lightbeams reflected by the beam splitters 107, 112 and 115, respectively.The use of the analyzers improves the contrast of images beingdisplayed. This analyzer is formed by a polarizing plate, and may beformed by a wire grid type of polarizing plate.

The cross dichroic prism 117 is structured into a cubic prism formed bycombining and bonding four triangle-pole-like prisms together. On thebonding surface of each triangle-pole-like prism, there is formed adichroic membrane, which is formed so that membranes on the two surfacesare mutually crossed at the center of the cross dichroic prism 117. Inthis prism 117, the dichroic membrane which serves one-side surface isable to reflect the blue light component B but allow the red and greenlight components R and G to pass therethrough. In addition, in thisprism 117, the dichroic membrane which serves the other-side surface hasthe capability of reflecting the red light component R but allowing theblue and green light components B and G pass therethrough.

Accordingly, the cross dichroic prism operates such that the blue lightcomponent B entered from the one-side surface is reflected by thedichroic membrane serving as the one surface so as to transmit thereflected light ahead of the prism 117, the red light component Rentered from the others-side surface is reflected by the dichroicmembrane serving as the other surface so as to transmit the reflectedlight ahead of the prism 117, and the green light component G enteredfrom the back surface is transmitted ahead of the prism 117 via therespective dichroic membranes. Hence the blue, red and green lightcomponents B, R and G are synthesized with each other.

The resultant blue, red and green light components B, R and Gsynthesized by the cross dichroic prism 117 are made to enter aprojection lens 118 as a synthesized light beam (see FIGS. 15 and 16).The projection lens 118 operates to project the incident image lightbeams on a screen for displaying images.

In the optical path in the projection lens 118, a further aperturemember 122 is disposed, in addition to the foregoing aperture membrane121 disposed in the illuminating light path. Each of the aperturemembers 121 and 122 includes a combination of a plurality of blades,gears and a motor, like a shutter for cameras, for instance.

The configuration shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 is provided with bothaperture members 121 and 122 at the same time, but this is not adefinitive list. Either the aperture member 121 or the aperture member122 can be disposed in a selective manner.

As shown in FIG. 4, using the incident polarized light whose cone angleis 10 degrees or less considerably raises contrast of images. Inparticular, it is thus preferred to use the incident polarized lightwhose cone angle is 9 degrees or less. Such a use corresponds to use ofan aperture member having an F-value of 3.6. When such an aperturemember is actually applied to the illuminating light, the contrast ofimages is obtained. It is therefore possible to additionally arrange theforegoing aperture member(s) in the present projection display apparatusin the illuminating optical system and/or the projecting optical system,whereby images being projected can be improved considerably.

However, when the aperture member is used, it is inevitable to decreasethe brightness of images. As to this problem, it is effective to adoptthe limiting way to limit pixels along the diagonal directions of anaperture, from the four corners gradually, as shown in FIG. 14. Thislimiting way is helpful for giving an increased contrast to images beingdisplayed, with the brightness of the images suppressed from lowering somuch.

The pre-tilt angle and the twist angle can be set as described before,so that the viewing angle characteristic of the reflective liquidcrystal display device can be widened. This viewing angle characteristicis exemplified as an isoluminance contour in FIG. 17, which shows thatthis aperture member gives contrast to light having angular componentsin the diagonal directions of the aperture.

In the case of the aperture member 121 (122) shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, alight intensity distribution over the angles of the illuminating lightcan be grasped as a light intensity distribution of light source imagesproduced on the secondly positioned fly's eye integrator 102 observedwhen being viewed from the side of the light source 101. The aperturemember 121 (122) has a rectangular aperture accepting the illuminatinglight and is disposed in the vicinity of the fly's eye integrator 102.

In a light intensity distribution of light source images in the apertureof the aperture member 121, the intensity becomes weaker as the positionin the aperture approaches to the four corners in the diagonaldirections, when viewed along the frontal direction of the secondlypositioned fry's eye integrator 102. FIG. 18 pictorially illustratessuch a condition corresponding to a conventional aperture member, wheresetting is made such that the denser (darker) the light source imagepositions in an aperture, the higher the light intensities. As can beunderstood from this illustration, the four corners of the aperture,which provide components at larger angles, are given lower lightintensities. Even if the four corner portions are lower in the lightintensities, such portions contain lots of components which decrease thecontrast.

In contrast, the aperture member 121 (122) according to the presentembodiment has the aperture that is able to provide a light intensitydistribution of light source images, which is shown in FIG. 19.Specifically, in the four corner regions of a rectangular aperture,there are formed light-shielding membranes (refer to four blackrectangular regions), so that light rays are removed preferentiallycompared to the remaining region. Hence it is possible to enhance thecontrast of images, with no large decrease in the brightness of theilluminating light.

In this embodiment, the aperture member 121 is arranged in theillumining optical system, whereby unnecessary light rays can beprevented from being transmitted after the color-separating opticalsystem. This is effective in suppressing increases in temperature of theliquid crystal display devices and optical parts as much as possible.

Additionally, the fly's eye integrator in the illuminating opticalsystem can be replaced by a light pipe type of integrator. In this case,it is preferred to dispose the integrator in the vicinity of the opticalsource images, providing the advantage similar to the above.

The disposal position of the aperture member is not always limited tothat in the illuminating optical system, but may be assigned to aposition in the projection optical system. Since there are formed thesecondary light source images also in the projection lens 118, theaperture member 122 in FIGS. 15 and 16 is disposed at a specificposition or at neighboring positions thereto in the projection lens 118,the secondary light source images being formed at the specific position.This aperture member 122 also has the similar advantages to thoseresultant from the aperture member 121. Further, the secondary lightsource images produced in the projection lens are smaller, providinganother advantage that the aperture member can be made smaller and lesscost.

As a result, in cases where the reflective liquid crystal display deviceaccording to the first embodiment is applied to a projection displayapparatus, the aperture member(s) adopted by the second embodimentenables an increase in the contrast of images being displayed, with thebrightness suppressed from decreasing so largely.

The aperture members 121 and 122 used in the second embodiment can bemodified into further structures. Though the pattern of such an aperturemember can be fixed, but may be movable by for example limiting it intosmaller ones, as shown in FIG. 20. The brightness and/or contrast ofimages can be adjusted dynamically. For example, the adjustment can bedone as exemplified in FIG. 21, where the aperture is narrowed to dropthe brightness for an improvement in the contrast. FIG. 22 also showsanother modification of such adjustment manners.

Third Embodiment

Referring to FIGS. 15, 23-29, a projection display apparatus accordingto a third embodiment of the present invention will now be is described,in which the reflective liquid crystal display device according thepresent invention is employed. In particular, the third embodiment isconcerned with the projection display apparatus which adopts a phasecompensator for incident light entering the display device.

In the reflective liquid crystal display device 1 shown in FIG. 1, it isideal that the incident angle of the incident polarized light to theliquid crystal layer 13 is 0 degree. Meanwhile, in general, anilluminating apparatus radiating illuminating light toward thereflective liquid crystal display device 1 adopts an integrator opticalsystem in order to raise the efficiency of use of light. This adoptionof the integrator optical system will result in giving a cone angle tothe incident polarized light. If this cone angle becomes larger, theliquid crystal layer 13 is obliged to give a larger difference in phaseto the light due to double refraction thereat, whereby images to bedisplayed are subjected to deterioration in the contrast.

In the present embodiment, this problem is overcome by adopting a phasecompensator serving as a phase compensator. To be specific, asillustrated in FIG. 14, a projection display apparatus is provided witha phase compensator 16 placed between the WD-PBS 2 and the reflectiveliquid crystal display device 1, with the result that high contrast ofimages is obtained. This was confirmed by the present inventors throughexperiments. In FIG. 14, the remaining components other than the plate16 are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

For example, on the condition that the pre-tilt angle and the cellthickness of the molecules of the liquid crystal layer 13 both arefixedly set and illuminating light is set to have a wavelength of 550 nm(Green), an F-value of 2.4, a cone angle (polar angle) of 12.4 degrees,the twist angle of the molecules of the liquid crystal layer 13 isselectively set to 0, 90 and 120 degrees. For each of such twist angles,the phase compensator 16 is subjected to changes of its phase differencefor measurement of light leakage in the black state. Measured resultsare shown in FIG. 15, in which it was confirmed that a phase differenceof approximately 250 nm provides a black level of the least leakage ofthe light, providing high contrast. In addition, confirmation was alsomade which a range from 130-400 nm in the phase difference stillprovides good black level states.

It should be noted however that the phase compensator 16 used in theabove inventors' experiments was selected to have athickness-directional refraction index nz smaller than plate-directionalrefraction indexes nx=ny. A practical example is nx=ny=1.5225 andnz=1.51586. The reason why the above phase compensator 16 is selected isas follows. The phase difference needed by this plate for the necessarybecomes larger with an increase in the incident angle of the incidentpolarized light. However, even if the same phase differenceΔP=2π·(nx−nz)(d/γ)·(wherein d is a layer thickness and γ is thewavelength of incident polarized light) is given, an averagely largerin-plane refraction index (nx+ny)/2 gives a smaller refraction angle tothe light passing the phase compensator 16 based on Snell's law. Thisresults in deteriorating effectiveness for the phase compensation.Therefore, the thickness-directional refractive index nz of the plate 16was made smaller than that of the plate-directional ones nx and ny.

By the way, in FIG. 25, there are shown graphs providing, along an axisof abscissae, incident angles of the incident polarized light enteringthe phase compensator 16 and, along an axis of ordinate, differencesfrom a phase difference in the case of an incident angle of 0 degree.The incident angle is measured as an angle of the incident polarizedlight to the substrate surface.

The graphs provide two types of values of retardance (nm) of the light.One type of values are measurement values of the retardance obtainedunder the samples (a refractive index is some 1.5 and a phase differenceis 260 nm) of a phase compensator experimentally showing high contrast,while the other type of values are simulated values of the retardancewhich are obtained with the use of hypothetical phase compensators whoserefractive indices are nx=ny=1.5225 and nz=1.51586 and phase differencesare changed to 66, 130, 200, 265, 330 and 400, respectively.

As clearly comprehensive from FIG. 25, the measured values preciselyagree with the simulated values. In a condition where the phasedifference at the phase compensator 16 is in a range of 130-400 nm,which was been confirmed as an optimum range in FIG. 24, it can beinferred that the difference from the phase differences according to theincident polarized light having a cone angle (polar angle) of 30 degreescorresponds to a range of 31-52 nm. From this fact, it is understoodthat, when the incident angle of the incident polarized light to thesubstrate surface is 30 degrees, the phase compensator 16 can be givenan optical characteristic that changes by 31-52 nm from a phasedifference to be caused in response to an incident angle of 0 degree.Utilizing the phase compensator 16 having such an optical characteristicprovides images with high contrast.

Utilizing FIG. 15 again, the forgoing phase compensator will now bedetailed in terms of its actual application.

The reflective liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 15exemplifies a structure in which the foregoing phase compensator isinserted in each of the color channels. Specifically, each of phasecompensators 131 to 133 for the respective color channels is arrangedbetween the respective liquid crystal display device and the wire gridtype of polarizing beam splitter in each color channel so that the phasecompensation can be carried out, thus improving the contrast.

Each of these phase compensators 131 to 133 is formed into a phasecompensating plate, called “C plate,” in which the refraction index in athickness direction perpendicular to the plate is set to be smaller thanthe refraction indices in a plate direction that is in parallel to theplate. In other words, the C plate is defined as a phase compensatingplate that satisfies a condition of “nx=ny>nz,” where nx and ny areprimary refraction indices in mutually perpendicular directions alongthe plate direction and nz is a primary refraction index in thethickness direction.

Each of the blue(B)-channel phase compensator 131, the green(G)-channelphase compensator 132, and the red(R) phase compensator 133 ispreviously given an optimum phase difference for compensating for aphase difference in each wavelength band. AR (anti-reflection) coatingis applied to the boundary face of each phase compensator 131 (to 133)to the air (i.e., the outer surface of each phase compensator), with thereflected light reduced.

In the first embodiment, FIG. 5 has been introduced to show therelationship between the cell thickness of a liquid crystal layer andthe light output in the dark state. It has also been confirmed thatmaking the cell thickness of a liquid crystal layer improves itscharacteristics including the disclination shown in FIG. 9 and aresponse speed. However, making the cell thickness too small will resultin a very high voltage for driving the liquid crystal, thus making itdifficult to produce the drive circuits. On the other hand, differenttypes of liquid crystal require different drive voltages and providedifferent response speeds, so that optimum phase differences for phasecompensators become different from each other.

FIGS. 26, 27 and 28 concern with three types of liquid crystal of whichdouble refraction indices Δn are mutually different (Δn=0.085, 0.132,0.155) and, respectively, show the relationship between the phasedifference for a phase compensator and the light leakage under thecondition that each cell thickness d is taken as a parameter. As alreadydescribed, with the twist angle φ independent of the double refractionindex Δn and the cell thickness d, a twist angle φ of 120 degrees givesa minimum to the light output. However, the phase differences for phasecompensators depends on the double refraction index Δn and the cellthickness d, because local minimum values of the curves showing thelight leakage depend on those values Δn and d.

On the other hand, a retardation which is caused when the light passes aliquid crystal layer of a cell thickness d is expressed by “Δn·d.” Hencewhen a phase difference (i.e., retardance) for the phase compensator,which provide a minimum value of each curve in FIGS. 26, 27 and 28, isexpressed by Rth, the relationship between the retardance Rth and thevalue “Δn·d” can be shown in FIG. 29.

The graph in FIG. 29 shows that, when Δn·d=150 nm, an optimum phasedifference Rth for the phase compensator is 200 nm and, when Δn·d=500nm, an optimum phase difference Rth for the phase compensator is 600 nmWhen taking it consideration the irregularities of liquid crystal layersand phase compensators to be adopted in actual apparatuses, an optimumrange of the phase difference Rth for the phase compensator is 100 to650 nm for the values Δn·d of 150-500 nm. Furthermore, as for the valuesΔn·d of 300-400 nm, an optimum range of the phase difference Rth for thephase compensator is 300-500 nm.

As described, though the retardation Δn·d changes depending on thedouble refraction index Δn of liquid crystal and the cell thickness dthereof, the present embodiment enables use of a phase compensator of abest-suited phase difference, whereby the contrast of image beingdisplayed can be improved more.

The projection display apparatus according to the third embodiment isable to provide high-contrast projected images by additionally using thephase compensator of the predetermined characteristics described above.

By the way, the structures described in both the second and thirdembodiments, that is, the collimator 20 and the phase compensator 16 maybe brought into operation together.

Fourth Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 30, a projection display apparatus with a reflectiveliquid crystal display device will now be described, in which theprojection display apparatus is according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention and is characteristic of use of another type ofpolarizing beam splatter.

As described, the projection display apparatus according to theforegoing embodiments adopts the wire grid type of polarizing beamsplitter (WG-PBS) as the polarizing beam splitter (PBS) which iscombined with the reflective liquid crystal display device reduced intopractice according to the present embodiment. This combination realizesa higher contrast ratio compared with the conventional, as described.

However, such a combination is not a definitive list in the presentinvention. In cases where the wire grid type of polarizing beam splitteris not used, the foregoing liquid crystal display devices 108, 113 and115 according to the present invention can still be combined with othertypes of polarizing beam splitters, although the performance cannotreach a level as high as the combination with the wire grid type ofpolarizing beam splitter, but is still higher than the conventional. Byway of example, a MacNeille type of polarizing beam splitter, which hasbeen used widely, can be adopted. In this case, it is not required tore-design the outer appearance of a conventional optical engine with theMacNeille type of polarizing beam splitter. The conventional opticalengine can be used, provided the reflective liquid crystal displaydevices are exchanged, thus reducing production costs.

FIG. 30 is a plan view showing a projection display apparatus with suchan optical engine. In this figure, for the same of a simplifiedexplanation, the components which are the same or identical as or tothose in FIGS. 15 and 16 of the second embodiment are given the samereference numerals.

In the projection display apparatus shown in FIG. 30, the componentscorresponding to those residing in a system extending from a lightsource to a color separation unit are similar to those in the secondembodiment. Additionally, there are provided MacNeille type ofpolarizing beam splitters 151-153, to which polarizing planes composedof pre-polarizers 126 and 127 are applied as shown in FIG. 30, so thatthe beam splitters 151-153 receive S-polarized light. Each of theMacNeille type of polarizing beam splitters 151-153, which is composedof two prisms which are glued together, reflects the S-polarized lightserving as the incident illuminating light. The reflected light(S-polarized) is transmitted to each of reflective liquid crystaldisplay devices 108, 113 and 115 through each of phase compensators(e.g., quarter wave plates) 141-143 placed between.

The incident light is modulated in each of the display devices 108, 113,and 115 depending on images, and then the modulated light is reflectedand returned to each of the beam splitters 151-153 again via each of thephase compensators 141-143. The returned light passes each of the beamsplitters 151 and 153 so that the light is converted to P-polarizedmodulated light. The modulated light for each color is synthesized bythe cross dichroic prism 117, and the synthesized light is projected toa screen by the projection lens 118.

Alternatively, the MacNeille type of polarizing beam splitter can bereplaced by a Cartesian type of polarizing beam splitter.

The present invention may be embodied in several other forms withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof. The present embodiments as describedare therefore intended to be only illustrative and not restrictive,since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claimsrather than by the description preceding them. All changes that fallwithin the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metesand bounds, are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.

1. A projection display apparatus comprising: a light source radiatinglight; an illuminating optical system receiving the light radiated bythe light source; a polarizing beam splitter polarizing the radiatedlight through the optical system to produce polarized light andseparating modulated light and non-modulated light; a reflective liquidcrystal display device receiving the polarized light to modulate thereceived polarized light in response to image signals so that themodulated light is produced and returning the modulated light to thepolarizing beam splitter; and a projection lens receiving the modulatedlight separated by the polarizing beam splitter to project the modulatedlight to a display plane on which an image is displayed, wherein thereflective liquid crystal display device comprises a first substratereceiving a perpendicular incidence of the polarized light, which ispolarized by the polarizing beam splitter, and having a surface on whicha transparent electrode is formed, the light being polarized by anoptical system including a polarizing beam splitter; a second substratebeing disposed in parallel to the second substrate with a space leftbetween the first and second electrodes, having a surface on which bothreflective electrodes and drive circuits for respective pixels areformed in a matrix, and causing modulated light to return to the opticalsystem, both surfaces of the first and second substrates being opposedto each other; and a liquid crystal layer held between both surfaces ofthe first and second substrates, composed of nematic liquid crystalhaving negative dielectric anisotropy, and given a function ofmodulating the polarized light into the modulated light, wherein a firstliquid crystal orientation direction on the first substrate is set to anangle rotated by “60+−α” degrees in a first rotating direction startingfrom a reference direction, and a second liquid crystal orientationdirection on the second substrate is set to an angle rotated by “60+−β”degrees in a second rotating direction starting from the referencedirection, the first and second rotating directions mutually oppositelyrotating from the reference direction, the reference direction beingparallel to the first and second substrates and being within an angularrange defined as a central angle plus .+−0.5 degrees wherein the centralangle is +−45 degrees from an oscillation direction of the polarizedlight entering each substrate, and a relationship of |α|+|β|≦10 (α and βare zero or positive integers) being fulfilled.
 2. The projectiondisplay apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an aperture member ispositioned at one or more positions selected from a first position inthe illuminating optical system and a second position in the projectionlens and formed to have an aperture through which the light generated byat least one of the illuminating optical system and the projection lenspasses so as to narrow a range of the light in a diagonal direction ofthe aperture.
 3. The projection display apparatus according to claim 1,comprising a phase compensator disposed between the reflective liquidcrystal display device and the polarizing beam splitter.
 4. Theprojection display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the phasecompensator is formed to (1) meet a condition of nx=ny≧nz wherein nx andny are primary refraction indices of the liquid crystal display devicein mutually-perpendicular directions in a plane of the phase compensatorand nz is a primary refraction index of the liquid crystal displaydevice in a thickness direction thereof and (ii) have a phase differenceset to 100 to 650 nm, in a case where the retardation “Δnd” of theliquid crystal display device is 150 to 500 nm wherein Δn is a doubleindex and d is a thickness of the liquid crystal layer.
 5. Theprojection display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the phasecompensator is formed to (1) meet a condition of nx=ny≧nz wherein nx andny are primary refraction indices of the liquid crystal display devicein mutually-perpendicular directions in a plane of the phase compensatorand nz is a primary refraction index of the liquid crystal displaydevice in a thickness direction thereof and (ii) have a phase differenceset to 300 to 500 nm, in a case where the retardation “Δnd” of theliquid crystal display device is 300 to 400 nm wherein Δn is a doubleindex and d is a thickness of the liquid crystal layer.
 6. Theprojection display apparatus according to claim 1, comprising anaperture member is positioned at one or more positions selected from afirst position in the illuminating optical system and a second positionin the projection lens and formed to have an aperture through which thelight generated by at least one of the illuminating optical system andthe projection lens passes so as to narrow a range of the light in adiagonal direction of the aperture; and a phase compensator disposedbetween the reflective liquid crystal display device and the polarizingbeam splitter.
 7. The projection display apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the polarizing beam splitter is a polarizing beam slitter with awire grid.
 8. The projection display apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the liquid crystal layer has a thickness of 3.5 μm or less in amutually opposed direction of the first and second substrates andmolecules having a pre-tilt angle selected from a range of 75 to 85degrees, the pre-tilt angle being given as an angle made between eachmolecule and the surfaces of the first and second substrates.
 9. Theprojection display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquidcrystal layer has a thickness of 2.6 μm or less in a mutually opposeddirection of the first and second substrates and molecules having apre-tilt angle selected from a range of 75 to 87 degrees, the pre-tiltangle being given as an angle made between each molecule and thesurfaces of the first and second substrates.
 10. The projection displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal layer has athickness of 2 μm or less in a mutually opposed direction of the firstand second substrates and molecules having a pre-tilt angle selectedfrom a range of 75 to 88 degrees, the pre-tilt angle being given as anangle made between each molecule and the surfaces of the first andsecond substrates.